Compact



COMPACT Filed June 9, 1964 IIVVf/VTOR I. ALBERT SILVE/PBERG' ar 5M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent M 3,308,835 COMPACT Albert Silver-berg, Roselyn Hall Apartments, Apt. 303, 17th and Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia, Pa. 19141 Filed June 9, 1964, Ser. No. 373,677 4 Claims. (Cl. 13283) This invention relates to a case for carrying small articles or the like and more particularly to one which is especially adapted to hold toilet articles such as a powder puff and powder.

This invention has as an object the provision of a case of the character indicated which can be opened in a rapid and efiicient manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a case which can be held and opened in one hand of the user.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a case having a lid which is adapted to be raised by a sliding actuator. Y

A still further object of this invention is to provide a case including a safety latch for preventing indiscriminate raising of the lid of the case when the "case is subjected to jostling in a ladys handbag or the like.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the case comprising the subject matter of the instant invention and illustrating the case with its lid closed.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1,

but illustrating the case with its lid in an open disposition.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the righthand portion of the case shown in FIGURE 3 and illustrating a slide mechanism for raising the lid of the case.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of the slide actuator comprising a portion of the mechanism for raising the lid of the case.

The case to be described herein is especially useful for holding small articles. While the case has been illustrated as a compact for carrying womens toilet articles, it should be understood that its use is not so limited The case can be used for other special purposes such as holding pills and the like, and is an article of general utility.

The case of the present invention is specifically designed to be opened by one hand. Due to this construction, the other hand of the user is free for using the contents of the case when it is desirable to maintain the lid of the case open.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, the case of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The case 10 is in the nature of a box including a bottom wall 11, an upstanding generally circular peripheral wall 12, an open top 13.

A lid 14 is pivotably secured to the box intermediate opposed portions of the peripheral wall as shown most clearly in FIGURE 5. The lid 14 is adapted to close the open top.

A hinge pin 22 secured adjacent one end of the lid 14 has its ends journalled in opposed portions of the upstanding peripheral wall 12. Fixedly secured to the hinge pin Patented Mar. 14, 1967 22 adjacent its mid portion are a pair of spaced pinions 24 and 26.

A housing generally designated by the numeral 32 is provided in the interior of the case 10. The housing 32 includes a pair of parallel side walls 34 and 36 projecting outwardly from a portion 28 of the upstanding peripheral wall 12. Supported intermediate the side walls 34 and 36 is a front wall 38 substantially parallel to the peripheral wall portion 28. The front wall 38 completes the housing 32 and provides a substantially rectangular enclosure within the interior of the case 10.

A slide actuator generally designated by the numeral 40 is placed within the housing 32. An elongated slot 30 is provided along the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 28. The slide actuator 40 includes a cross bar 42 adapted to be seated along the bottom wall 11 of the case and to protrude through the slot 30.

The slide actuator 40 is also provided with a pair of parallel posts terminating in rack teeth 44 and 46. Rack teeth 44 and 46 are placed in meshing engagement with the pinions 26 and 24 respectively projecting downwardly from the lid '14.

Intermediate the racks 44 and 46 is a stop projection 48. The projection 48 limits the extent of movement of the cross-bar 42 through the slot 30 by abutment with the peripheral wall portion 28 as shown in FIGURE 3.

The front face of the stop 48 includes a notch 50. The rear face of the front wall of the housing 32 is also provided with a notch 52 in axial alignment with the notch 50. A coil spring 54 is compressed and disposed within the aligned notches 50 and 52. The coil spring 54 urges the slide actuator 40 towards the peripheral wall portion 28.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the position of the slide actuator when the lid is closed. To open the lid 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it is only necessary to push the cross-bar 42 inwardly to compress the coil spring 54. This movement of the slide actuator 40 will cause the racks 44 and 46 to rotate the pinions 26 and 24 respectively. Rotation of the pinions will cause rotation of the hinge pin 22 and the lid 14 will be raised. Release of pressure on the crossbar 42, will automatically result in the closing of the lid 14. This is, the coil spring 54 will urge the slide actuator 40 back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. The racks 44 and 46 will rotate the pinions 26 and 24 to close the lid under the urging of the spring 54. When closed, the lid 14 is adapted to seat upon a radially inwardly extending peripheral flange 55 secured to the upstanding peripheral wall 12.

A safety latch is also provided for holding the lid v14 in a secure, closed position. The latch will preclude inadvertent opening of the lid 14 by accidential movement of the slide actuator 40.

The latch comprises an upstanding leaf spring 58 secured by means of a fastener 64 to the peripheral wall 12. At its top end, the leaf spring 58 is rolled to form a bead 60. The lid 14 is provided with a latch keeper 56. The latch keeper 56 includes a downwardly extending projection terminating in a radially inwardly extending curved seat for the bead 60 on the leaf spring 58. A recess 62 is cut in the upstanding peripheral wall 12 and peripheral flange 55 for receiving the latch keeper 56. When the lid 14 is closed, the latch keeper 56 will contact the bead 60 and cam the leaf spring 58 to the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 3. The leaf spring 58 will 3 latch actuator 66 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 3, it will contact the leaf spring 58 and remove the bead 60 from the latch keeper 56. In this manner, the lid 14 can then be opened.

It will now be apparent that the case may be held in the palm of the users hand. Pressure can be applied simultaneously to the crossbar 42 and latch actuator 66 to raise the lid 14. By maintaining-this pressure, the lid will remain in its opened disposition.

Since one hand is free for using the contents of the case 10, the case is ideal for use as a compact. Therefore,- a mirror 18 may be held by L-shaped clips 20 on the underside of the lid 14. Powder 17 may be disposed in an article receiving chamber defined between the upstanding peripheral wall 12 and the housing 32. The powder puff 16 may be laid upon the powder 17. The user may remove the powder puif from the open case and apply makeup to her face while using the mirror 18.

If desired, the lid or any other portion of the case 10 may be supplied with indicia such as indicated at 68 to provide the case with an attractive appearance.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A case for carrying small articles comprising a box having an open top, a bottom opposite said open top, and an upstanding peripheral wall connected to said bottom, a lid pivotably secured to said box intermediate opposed portions of said peripheral wall adapted to close said open top, a rod having its ends journaled in opposed portions of said upstanding peripheral wall, at least one rotatable gear fixedly connected to said rod, said rod being fixedly connected to said lid, a slide actuator slidably supported on the bottom of said box for raising said lid, said slide actuator including a cross-bar protruding through an aperture in a portion of said upstanding peripheral wall, gear teeth upwardly projecting from said actuator in meshing engagement with said rotatable gear on said rod for rotating said rod and thereby moving said lid, means within said box for urging said cross-bar outwardly of said box through the aperture in said peripheral wall portion and biasing said iid to a closed position on said open top, and latch means associated with another portion of said upstanding peripheral wall and said lid for holding said lid in a closed position on said open top whereby said cross-bar and latch means must be actuated to open said lid.

2. A case in accordance with claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a keeper projecting downwardly from said lid, 2. leaf spring projecting upwardly from the interior of said 'box, catch means on one end of said leaf spring receivable by said keeper for holding said lid in closed position on said open top, and means reciprocably mounted on said upstanding peripheral wall for flexing said leaf spring to remove said catch means from said keeper, said last-named means being accessible from the exterior of said box.

3. A case in accordance with claim 2wherein said reciprocable means is mounted on a portion of said peripheral wall directly opposite from the aperture in said peripheral wall.

4. A case for carrying small articles comprising a box having an open top, a bottom opposite said open top, and an upstanding peripheral wall connected to said bottom, a lid pivotably secured to said box intermediate opposed portions of said peripheral wall adapted to close said open top, a rod having its ends journaled in opposed portions of said upstanding peripheral wall, rotatable gears fixedly connected to said rod, rotation of said gears operatable to pivot said lid, a housing within said box, said housing including a segment of said peripheral wall and an interior wall within said box connected to said peripheral wall segment, a slide actuator supported on the bottom of said box, said slide actuator including a cross-bar protruding through an aperture in said peripheral wall segment, gear teeth projecting upwardly from said actuator in meshing engagement with said rotatable gears on said rod, a spring member extending between said interior wall and slide actuator for biasing said cross-bar outwardly through the aperture in the peripheral wall segment and for biasing said lid to a closed position on said open top, means on said actuator for limiting the extent of movement of said oross-bar through the aperture in the peripheral wall segment, latch means associated with another segment of said peripheral wall of said box and said lid for holding said lid in closed position on said open top independent of said slide actuator, said latch means including a keeper projecting downwardly from said lid, a leaf spring projecting upwardly from the interior of said box, catch means on one end of said leaf spring receivable by said keeper for holding said lid in closed position on said open top, and means reciprocably mounted on said upstanding peripheral wall for flexing said leaf spring to remove said catch means from said keeper, said last-named means being accessible from the exterior of said box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1941 Machin et al. 5/1960 Kaskey 206-45.l5 

1. A CASE FOR CARRYING SMALL ARTICLES COMPRISING A BOX HAVING AN OPEN TOP, A BOTTOM OPPOSITE SAID OPEN TOP, AND AN UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM, A LID PIVOTABLY SECURED TO SAID BOX INTERMEDIATE OPPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID OPEN TOP, A ROD HAVING ITS ENDS JOURNALED IN OPPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL, AT LEAST ONE ROTATABLE GEAR FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD, SAID ROD BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID LID, A SLIDE ACTUATOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOX FOR RAISING SAID LID, SAID SLIDE ACTUATOR INCLUDING A CROSS-BAR PROTRUDING THROUGH AN APERTURE IN A PORTION OF SAID UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL, GEAR TEETH UPWARDLY PROJECTING FROM SAID ACTUATOR IN MESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROTATABLE GEAR ON SAID ROD FOR ROTATING SAID ROD AND THEREBY MOVING SAID LID, MEANS WITHIN SAID BOX FOR URGING SAID CROSS-BAR OUTWARDLY OF SAID BOX THROUGH THE APERTURE IN SAID PERIPHERAL WALL PORTION AND BIASING SAID LID TO A CLOSED POSITION ON SAID OPEN TOP, AND LATCH MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL AND SAID LID FOR HOLDING SAID LID IN A CLOSED POSITION ON SAID OPEN TOP WHEREBY SAID CROSS-BAR AND LATCH MEANS MUST BE ACTUATED TO OPEN SAID LID. 